tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post2551598828897669554..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: Pagan "evangelicalism"?Phil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-5596606651560615882009-02-22T22:02:00.000-08:002009-02-22T22:02:00.000-08:00How Did You Trick Out Your Blog Title?How Did You Trick Out Your Blog Title?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-37558166408233004872009-02-22T19:53:00.000-08:002009-02-22T19:53:00.000-08:00Does Paganism really work the spirits? Or do the ...Does Paganism really work the spirits? Or do the Spirits work the people all the while make people think they are working the spirits? I look at it this way if it isn't about God getting the glory something is wrong.Donald H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01338992303389898483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-11549478610891486662009-02-22T10:33:00.000-08:002009-02-22T10:33:00.000-08:00I'm very glad if some of what I write is useful to...I'm very glad if some of what I write is useful to you.<BR/><BR/><I>Not that I agree with all of it...</I><BR/><BR/><B>Only I</B> am required to agree with <I>everything</I> I write.<BR/><BR/>(c;DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-6097753601083946822009-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:002009-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:00Very good point.I enjoy reading through your mater...Very good point.<BR/><BR/>I enjoy reading through your material on this site. Not that I agree with all of it, but it's nonetheless interesting. <BR/><BR/>Like I said earlier, my experience with reformed theology is very limited and not very positive. I'm glad I found a community willing to dialogue on issues and people who are willing to hear out my questions.<BR/><BR/>I've got your stuff coming through my google reader now, and I look forward to future posts. I'll let my questions rest for now.<BR/><BR/>Matt<BR/><A HREF="http://www.christiantwopointoh.com" REL="nofollow">Christian2.0</A>Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-44477323014322842682009-02-22T07:27:00.000-08:002009-02-22T07:27:00.000-08:00If you're arguing against basic a doctrine solely ...If you're arguing against basic a doctrine solely on a verse in Proverbs, then I don't know who you're arguing with. Find me anyone who advocates <I>that</I>, and I'll argue with him too.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3970754750909973052009-02-22T07:24:00.000-08:002009-02-22T07:24:00.000-08:00I wasn't advocating dismissing the teachings. Jus...I wasn't advocating dismissing the teachings. Just not basing a doctrine around them.<BR/><BR/>I'm also not denying the sovereignty of God in saying I don't think that passage in Proverbs is directly teaching it.<BR/><BR/>I'll post more on this in a few hours. Gotta run. But I appreciate the conversation and quick responses. This is good, and challenging.<BR/><BR/>Matt<BR/><A HREF="http://www.christiantwopointoh.com" REL="nofollow">Christian2.0</A>Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-13590122216466154952009-02-22T07:12:00.000-08:002009-02-22T07:12:00.000-08:00I'm quite familiar with the book, and don't ardent...I'm quite familiar with the book, and don't ardently love it.<BR/><BR/>I'm also somewhat familiar with Proverbs, or at least am trying to be. I've studied it closely for decades, did my Master's thesis on it, and have conducted seminars on it. Proverbs is practical, but it is not non-doctrinal, and dismissing an ore of proverbial teaching is unwarranted. Check out the various <A HREF="http://teampyro.blogspot.com/search/label/Proverbs" REL="nofollow">posts I've done here on (or around) Proverbs</A>.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-12225790040021823502009-02-22T06:57:00.000-08:002009-02-22T06:57:00.000-08:00@ Blue Collar ToddI can agree that liberalism is t...@ Blue Collar Todd<BR/>I can agree that liberalism is troubling. However I don't think I'd tag your final link the same way. Saying that Oprah is a liberal Christian is like saying Shamu is a Killer Rhinoceros. There is nothing about her that reflects a faith in Christ (she is liberal though). I'm also not quite so doom and gloom about it all.<BR/><BR/>@DJP<BR/>I did chew over the texts you referenced. I was just perplexed at the use of wisdom literature as doctrinal teaching. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote an amazing book on different types of literature found in the Bible, <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-All-Worth/dp/0310246040" REL="nofollow">How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth</A> and these scholars suggest in a list of 9 rules in handling Proverbs, "2. Proverbs are intensely practical, not theoretically theological."<BR/><BR/>You really should just read the whole chapter, that little quote doesn't do it justice. Basically, they are saying that Proverbs wasn't written as a doctrinal treatise, it was written as general guidelines by which we should live. Take any single line out of Proverbs and apply it, you could be in for a real problem. I just don't know if I can support a doctrine held together by the linguistic technicalities of pithy sayings.<BR/><BR/>Matt<BR/><A HREF="http://www.christiantwopointoh.com" REL="nofollow">Christian2.0</A>Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-28409384156083735062009-02-22T03:47:00.000-08:002009-02-22T03:47:00.000-08:00Related to this also is that I think the modern eq...Related to this also is that I think the modern equivelant to Baal worship is Liberalism. If you look at the evil fruit that Liberalism is bringing forth, it is the same as ancient Baal worship: <A HREF="http://whyimnotademocrat.blogspot.com/2009/01/liberal-like-president-obama-supports.html" REL="nofollow">sexual immorality</A> and <A HREF="http://whyimnotademocrat.blogspot.com/2009/01/idolatry-and-abortion-liberalism-is.html" REL="nofollow">human sacrifice</A>. <BR/><BR/>What is even more troubling is that <A HREF="http://whyimnotademocrat.blogspot.com/2009/01/oprahs-spirituality-101-and-your.html" REL="nofollow">Liberal Christians</A> are helping to propagate this evil by their idolatry of a world view that stand in total antithesis to biblical Christianity. We are in for a fight over the very core of the faith.Blue Collar Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06405341351988210669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-26383466997592411282009-02-20T09:57:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:57:00.000-08:00I should probably do a post on it sometime. If I d...I should probably do a post on it sometime. If I do, it will just be a longer version of this:<BR/><BR/>Deuteronomy 29:29<BR/><BR/>The Bible absolutely does teach that God is in sovereign control over all, even down to the last, most seemingly-random event (Proverbs 16:33).<BR/><BR/>However, we're not responsible for reading His mind nor divining His will. We're responsible for thinking and planning and obeying (Deuteronomy 29:29; Proverbs 16:1, 9).<BR/><BR/>Couple that with what I alluded to in my last response, and I hope you've something helpful to chew over.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-89419340016019970072009-02-20T09:52:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:52:00.000-08:00All three sources helped me to understand, you are...All three sources helped me to understand, you are right. So I guess I should reword my question. <BR/><BR/>I haven't encountered much Reformed theology until the last few weeks and I'm trying to process all this new information. My only previous experience was 4 years ago when a Calvinistic friend incessently told me that God willed me to call him, put on tennis shoes, and so on...<BR/><BR/>Some of these ideas just sound deistic to me, and I know they weren't intended that way, so I'm trying to better understand the rationale.Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-13281581661783199812009-02-20T09:36:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:36:00.000-08:00The question makes sense, but you already have thr...The question makes sense, but you already have three responses in this thread. Check the two posts I link to near the end of my post, and check my first comment on this meta.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3414800452424798242009-02-20T09:34:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:34:00.000-08:00Admittedly, I've studied more philosophy than theo...Admittedly, I've studied more philosophy than theology. I reached a place where I understood the essentials well enough to convey them, and then began really studying how the rest of the world thinks. So, I'm coming at this not as an amatuer, but still ignorant. <I>I'd like to hear some feedback on how a person of Reformed thoelogy reconciles prayer?</I> I view prayer as dynamic, but <B>some</B> Reformed theologians I've talked with show prayer as an exercise for our own development and not as something that can change the world. <BR/><BR/>I hope that makes sense.Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-53584896541714790562009-02-20T09:14:00.000-08:002009-02-20T09:14:00.000-08:00corinthian:As best I can tell, it seems like the v...<B>corinthian:</B><BR/>As best I can tell, it seems like the verses you referenced are discussing unrepentant sinners, the unrighteous, etc. i.e. Those not under the covenant of grace.<BR/><BR/>That being said, the verse in 1 Pet 3 <I>does</I> indicate that our prayers may be <I>hindered or impeded</I> if we aren't living as we ought. This doesn't seem to be saying the prayer goes unheard, but rather that the prayer itself is likely to be tainted or flawed in some way.CGrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257084521984285384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-78520386445428720882009-02-20T07:03:00.000-08:002009-02-20T07:03:00.000-08:00See it?I wrote it!( j/k )<I>See</I> it?<BR/><BR/>I <I>wrote</I> it!<BR/><BR/>( j/k )DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48964679248704346592009-02-20T06:53:00.000-08:002009-02-20T06:53:00.000-08:00Did you all see this review of "The Shack"?Did you all see <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/review/RCJQVPI1DTABT/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm" REL="nofollow">this review</A> of "The Shack"?Mike Westfallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06944727980772754938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-35810334816826488362009-02-19T21:11:00.000-08:002009-02-19T21:11:00.000-08:00"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered praye..."Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."<BR/><BR/>-Garth Brooks<BR/><BR/><BR/>j/k...sort of.lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269079315500219992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-61964638588336496912009-02-19T17:39:00.000-08:002009-02-19T17:39:00.000-08:00I'm the only mean one.I'm the only mean one.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-52659971532527828792009-02-19T17:35:00.000-08:002009-02-19T17:35:00.000-08:00Eric - peace, brother. They let me comment here as...Eric - peace, brother. They let me comment here as a novelty! Not really, for the most part they are very gracious and accommodating, even in disagreement which should be the mark of believers.Rick Fruehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-53532300278367547512009-02-19T17:11:00.000-08:002009-02-19T17:11:00.000-08:00Rick,I am aware of your Arminianism as it was show...Rick,<BR/><BR/>I am aware of your Arminianism as it was showing in your first comment that I responded to, but thanks for pointing it out.<BR/><BR/>I am not Arminian in theological belief nor do I believe that the quote that you pointed out is in line with Arminianism. <BR/><BR/>In the quote I was not speaking about salvation, but obedience. I find no place in scripture to suggest that God does not desire my obedience. Rather, since God demands my obedience, it follows that He desires for me to obey. However, had God decreed in His sovereign will that I would obey, it could not be changed. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps my using the example of obedience muddies the issue. Either way, even as the Webster's definitions that I provided show, the terms "desire" and "will" are not interchangeable. Although you did not answer my question about the difference in the two definitions (how they were parsed), I'll assume that you recognize the difference in the definitions that I provided.<BR/><BR/>There is no doubt that the nature of God's sovereignty is mysterious to me.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345630463450652762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-64064298277034640952009-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00"Frankly, all of that section of 1 Corinthians 7 h..."Frankly, all of that section of 1 Corinthians 7 has been a <B><I>comfort</I></B> to me. Ditto for Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7."<BR/><BR/>Well, not <B><I>just</I></B> comfort, but guidance, a source of conviction, a mirror to my soul, sharper than a two-edged sword, the gold standard against which I fall short, etc., etc., etc.Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-25862798816729266592009-02-19T16:44:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:44:00.000-08:00Chad, Christiant2.0:Thanks to both of you.Frankly,...Chad, Christiant2.0:<BR/><BR/>Thanks to both of you.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, all of that section of 1 Corinthians 7 has been a comfort to me. Ditto for Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7.<BR/><BR/>Sure, verse 16 is a tough verse (considering its context), but it too gave me guidance at a time when it looked like that might be the way things go (God forbid). By resigning myself to the possibility—not clinging to the past out of fleshly fear of losing her—God in His grace actually brought about a renewal in our marriage, and we are much closer together now than at any time in the past, and I've grown in my understanding of what it means to be a Christian husband.<BR/><BR/>Verse 14 is good stuff, too, but salvation for her will ultimately not happen simply by virtue of the fact that she's married to me, but will come the same way it comes to all of us, according to God's sovereign grace. And so I pray and plead with Him, and try to live out Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3 to her....Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48597365830090540572009-02-19T16:43:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:43:00.000-08:00I just got off the phone with a dear new sister in...I just got off the phone with a dear new sister in Christ who is wrestling with how to pray for God's will in her husband's life. Her fear is that if God answers in a way that her husband doesn't like, her husband will blame <B>her</B>. I reassured her that, compelling and convincing as she often is, she not all <I>that</I>. A good thing indeed. :)<BR/><BR/>I'm mailing her this link right now.Rachael Starkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781158372237369417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-58797878670968097482009-02-19T16:14:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:14:00.000-08:00Christiant2.0'sall right.<B>Christiant2.0</B><BR/><BR/>'sall right.Chad V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02478790778245966382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-40167514373886074432009-02-19T16:07:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:07:00.000-08:00You are right. There are many quotes by Christ an...You are right. There are many quotes by Christ and Paul that are single verses.<BR/><BR/>I didn't mean offense by the comment. And the phrase "someone's segmented sentences" wasn't directed at you, but towards the editors of the Bible.<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry you thought I was belittling your comment, in all honesty, I was piggybacking on it.<BR/><BR/>Matt<BR/><A HREF="http://www.christiantwopointoh.com" REL="nofollow">Christian2.0</A>Christiant2.0https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266441582242638135noreply@blogger.com